A Case Report on the Improvement of Dyspnea and Edema Caused by Heart Failure Through a Complex Korean Medicine Treatment

Objective: This case report demonstrates the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment in managing heart failure symptoms at a primary Korean medicine clinic.Case Presentation: A female patient in her mid-80s was treated for heart failure by receiving acupuncture and herbal medicine twice per week alongside conventional Western therapy. Over 133 days, her heart function improved from New York Heart Association class III to II. Dyspnea symptoms decreased from modified Medical Research Council grade 3 to 2, and pitting edema symptoms improved from grade 3 to 1. The patient’s subjective discomfort related to dyspnea and activity limitation, assessed by the Numerical Rating Scale, also decreased from 7-8 to 3.Conclusion: This case demonstrates the potential for heart failure symptom management in a primary Korean medicine clinic through objective evaluation and continuous monitoring, as well as effective concomitant therapy using conventional and herbal medicine.